Japanese Maple

Brief Overview of Japanese Maple

Amazing Experience with Beautiful Autumn LeavesDuring the peak of the autumn season in Japan, the leaves of the maple trees and ginkgo trees turn red, orange and yellow in concert presenting with beautiful scenery at every turn. Autumn leaves, known as koyo in Japanese, draw just as many visitors in autumn as the cherry blossoms do during spring. The viewing of autumn leaves has been a popular activity in Japan for centuries. Today people still set out all over the country to find the best spot to view the beauty of the stunning blend of yellow, orange and red leaves. There are many ways to enjoy the autumn leaves. You can take a walk down historical streets and enjoy the autumn colors, and in some places you can take in a panoramic autumn view while soaking in a hot spring. All the information about where you can enjoy the changing of the autumn leaves in advance is generally on the websites of famous spots and the “autumn leaves forecast” on the Internet.

Many Marvelous Autumn Foliage Spots in all over JapanFamous spots for viewing the autumn foliage are dotted all across the country, especially in parks, temples and mountainous regions. In contrast with cherry blossoms, autumn colors start from the north. The season lasts from September through to early November, depending on the weather and location. They can be seen first at the beginning of September in Daisetsuzan, a picturesque spot for the viewing of colorful autumn foliage in Hokkaido, and then they move southward and arrive in Kyushu where the best season is at the beginning of December. The change occurs when the low temperature at dawn is about 6 degrees or 7 degrees Celsius, and the viewing season lasts for 20 to 25 days. The exact timing to see the leaves fluctuates somewhat from year to year.

Japanese Maple is an Essential of Japanese Autumn SceneIn colorful Japanese autumn season, Japanese maple is the representative of all kinds of autumn trees in Japan. It provides a soft presence in a small front yard or command attention with wine-dark foliage against a backdrop of summer greens, a red glow between city walls in autumn, a sparkle of apple green in spring, and a sculpture to catch the snow in winter in Japan. Two words meaning "autumn-colored foliage" are “koyo” and “momiji”, both written with the same two characters, “紅葉”. “Koyo” refers to the phenomenon of changing autumn colors, mainly when it occurs to the leaves of deciduous broad-leaf trees before the leaves fall to the ground. At some point in time, the word “momiji” became synonymous with the Japanese maple tree, the most beautiful of the autumn trees.

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History and Culture of Japanese Maple

Long History of Appreciation of Autumn Foliage in JapanWhen autumn deepens and the leaves begin to turn color in the fields and mountains, "hunting for autumn foliage" is a popular pastime in Japan. Taking outings to appreciate the beauty of autumn has been a custom since the ancient collection of Manyoshu poetry was compiled in the eighth century, and there are scenes that involve "hunting" for beautiful autumn colors in the classical Heian Period novel "The Tale of the Genji." The practice of writing the words koyo and momiji with the same characters goes back to Heian times, and a large section of the Kokin Wakashu poetry collection, compiled around the beginning of the same period, is dedicated almost entirely to autumn leaves. For as long as there have been seasons in Japan, the colors of trees have been a symbol of autumn, just as the cherry blossom is a symbol of spring. Today, going on a picnic or a drive to the mountains or countryside to gaze at the beauty of autumn is a common pursuit.

Autumn Foliage in Japanese CultureMetaphors using koyoThe small, cute hands of a baby may be called "hands like tiny maple leaves," and to become red-faced in embarrassment is to "scatter autumn leaves."

Momiji TempuraMaple leaves are sometimes eaten as tempura. Fresh leaves are salted or sugared and then fried in tempura batter, for a delicious treat.

Kimono FabricThe maple leaf is often chosen for the patterns and designs of kimono fabric.

Maple Leaves and Deer"Maple leaves and a deer" is an expression used to express the idea of a good pairing, and the two are often used together as a motif in paintings and other art forms. The combination also appears in the Japanese card game hanafuda.

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Japanese Maple Tree

Beautiful Maple Tree native to JapanJapanese maple is a woody plant native to Japan, on Honshu, Hokkaido, and Kyushyu islands. There are many maple species in Japan, but most of the trees that gardeners call Japanese maples are varieties of A. japonicum and A. shirasawanum. The natural range of the species now spreads to the part of Korea, Mongolia, and southeast Russia. Today, many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their attractive leaf shapes and colors.

Japanese Maple has been cultivated in Japanese Garden for centuriesThe species can grow to 20 or 30 feet tall, often in the understory of open woods between larger trees. But it has been cultivated in Japanese gardens for centuries. Gardeners have taken advantage of the plant's natural genetic variation to select hundreds of distinct cultivars. Every Japanese maple has leaves with five to seven pointed lobes. In some varieties, however, the lobes are much more slender, often edged with teeth, giving the foliage an overall lacy effect—leading them to be called laceleaf maples or, with finer leaves, threadleaf maples. Usually, those plants have a mounded or cascading form.

Distinctive Beauty of Changing ColorsOne of Japanese maples' chief attractions is their vivid fall color, but many kinds have colorful leaves throughout the season, and sometimes leaves that change, chameleon-like, from spring through autumn. Another useful attribute is that, though full sun is best, most Japanese maples can tolerate some shade—not deep shade, but the kind of dappled sunlight that finds its way between buildings and trees into city gardens. Because of their distinctive beauty, Japanese maples are usually planted as attention-grabbing specimens.